Steeler Nation Welcomes Avery Williamson

By: Jonathan Clark

SteelerNation.com

In one of his first interviews as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, newest addition to the MLB room, Avery Williamson sat down with our very own G. Stryker of the SteelerNation.com Podcast. The 6’1", 246 pound middle linebacker comes to the black and gold via a trade with the New York Jets that went down ahead of Tuesday night's NFL trade deadline. The deal came about due, to the injury of 2nd year promising MLB Ulysses Gilbert III being placed on the Injured Reserve list just yesterday. SteelerNation voiced their excitement level landing a talent like his, and Stryker was one of the first to welcome him to the black and gold with open arms.

In the interview, Williamson could not stress enough how much he wants to put on a show for SteelerNation this upcoming Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. With Saturday being the first time he can be at the Steelers facility (due to COVID-19), he says that he has been attending some virtual team meetings and has been trying to learn as fast as he can to earn a spot on the field on Sunday. Time is not on his side when it comes to playing this Sunday, but he hopes to see as much playing time as he can. 

Williamson seems to be the type of player that the Steelers and their fans love, a team player. A guy who will do anything that is asked to accomplish the main goal, whether that means playing every defensive down, or just being on the field for special teams. Winning is what's most important to #51. Coming from an 0-8 New York Jets football team, it won’t take long for Williamson to get comfortable with winning again.

Interestingly enough, Williamson has already had some connections to the Steelers organization throughout his football career. Ones that helped shape him into the player he is today. Besides being college teammates with our star OLB Bud Dupree at the University of Kentucky, Williamson encountered some familiar Steeler faces throughout his NFL career so far as well. Williamson was a 5th round draft pick of the Tennessee Titans in the 2014 NFL Draft, whose defensive coordinator at the time was Steeler legend, Dick LeBeau. LeBeau had the same type of defense in Tennessee that made a staple in the Steel City. Williamson grew up in the NFL playing a similar style of defense with the Titans for his first four seasons, and there is no doubt that this connection means that Williamson will have a certain comfort level with this defense here in Pittsburgh.

The former Titan/Jet has had good games against the Steelers in the past, stating that he remembers putting on a solid performance in his rookie year against Pittsburgh where he sacked Ben Roethlisberger twice, which we all know is a very hard thing to do. Williamson hopes to continue making plays like this through his tenure here, except this time, he will be on the good side. 

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE:

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